Africa is a kaleidoscope of cultures, ethnic groups, and tribes: every social group has its own traditions, its own rules, and, inevitably, its own problems. The status of women in Africa is emblematic of this diversity: even within a single country, one need only travel a few kilometers to encounter significant differences.

In some areas, the status of women is influenced by Islamic laws that can limit women’s freedom of choice regarding marriage, inheritance, and access to education. In sub-Saharan African countries, however, women’s marginalization persists due to poverty, low literacy rates, and the continuation of traditional practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation. These are just two aspects of a complex and fragmented landscape.

If, however, we wish to identify a truly common thread, we can find it in the importance that women have—or must come to have—in the continent’s development, as Pope Francis emphasized in his speech in Juba (South Sudan). In calling for greater involvement of women in decision-making processes, the Pope also expressly urged that they always be respected, because “whoever commits violence against a woman commits it against God.”

The Foundation supports various projects aimed at protecting and empowering African women, in the belief that it is sowing the seeds of peace and social justice.